Seven changes for Wales

19 February 2007 14:35pm

By WRU

(Main) Shane Williams, who went on the rampage in Paris two years ago creating try opportunities for Martyn Williams, is back in the line up for Saturday (Thumb) After an injury lay off, Tom Shanklin also returns

Gareth Jenkins has made seven changes to the starting line-up which lost to Scotland for the RBS Six Nations clash with France on Saturday (8pm).

Lee Byrne returns from a knee injury to replace the injured Dragon Kevin Morgan (jaw) at full back and is joined in the back line by fit again fellow Osprey Shane Williams, who takes over from Chris Czekaj (Blues) on the wing.

Blues centre Tom Shanklin makes his first start of the 2007 RBS Six Nations Championship, replacing regional team-mate Jamie Robinson, who moves from outside centre to the bench, with Scarlet Mark Jones moving from the right to left wing in a positional switch.

In the forwards it's all change in the front row with Gethin Jenkins (Blues) and Chris Horsman (Worcester) recalled at prop and Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees named to make his first RBS Six Nations start. At second row Dragon Ian Gough comes in for Robert Sidoli and Ospreys lock Brent Cockbain is preferred to Sidoli as cover from the bench.

Blues hooker Rhys Thomas joins Ospreys prop Duncan Jones on a bench which sees a return to international rugby for Cockbain after more than a year away (he hasn't played for Wales since injuring his hamstring during the win over Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on 11th November 2005).

"It's obviously a boost to have someone of Shane's ability and experience back in the fold and the same applies to Tom Shanklin who makes his first start of this campaign and also Lee Byrne who has been called into the squad," said Jenkins. "But it's also fair to say we would have preferred to be easing these players in under different circumstances.

"None of the three individuals mentioned have played much rugby in recent weeks, but that is the situation we are in and the likes of Tom, with 37 caps, and Shane who is nearing the half century are more than capable of meeting the challenge ahead. Lee Byrne also has experience of international rugby in the specialist full back position under his belt and he has come back to fitness at just the right time for us.

"Up front we have looked at the physicality of our front row and have presented a different dynamic for the French match than that against Scotland. We were not at our best in that area at Murrayfield and we have looked for extra power in the scrum this time out.

"Cockbain will offer impact and physicality to us from the bench and Gough has been preferred to Sidoli for similar reasons as we look at each team selection on its merits. The back row has been an asset to us and we feel we have the right balance in this pack to compete on level terms with France.

"France have a big physical presence up front which we will need to combat, they operate a blitz defence and take their opportunities well in attack. We need to break the physical dominance they put on a game and we have strong views about how we want to take the game to them.

"France is always a tough place to go and they have proved they are the best team in this Championship in the first two rounds, but we are at a stage where we need to get back out there on the pitch and show what we have to offer as well."

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